34 THE SHAG. 



in the dark recesses at the top. It was breeding at the 

 Brander Cove on the 16th of July 1880.^ The nest is 

 generally a somewhat bulky structure, principally com- 

 posed of sea-weeds and grass, a favourite site for it being 

 a ledge at the side of a cave. The eggs, which are usually 

 three or four in number, are pale blue, encrusted with 

 chalky white. 



Selby, in his account of birds observed at St. Abb's 

 Head on the 18th of July 1832, says: "As we returned 

 seaward in the boat several Green Cormorants were seen 

 perched upon the pinnacles of the smaller isolated rocks, 

 surveying with keen and watchful eyes our progress, and 

 always too much upon the alert to permit us to approach 

 within gunshot."^ Mr. Archibald Hepburn, in his Notes 

 on birds found at St. Abb's Head on the 20th of June 

 1850, mentions that "a few pairs of the Green Cormorant 

 haunt the coast." ^ 



In its habits the Shag resembles the Common Cormorant, 

 and is more or less gregarious. About the neighbourhood of 

 St. Abb's Head it may be often seen perched on some rocky 

 point or shelf, resting and preening its feathers, or winging 

 its way rapidly out to sea, keeping low over the surface of 

 the water. It is fond of frequenting caves, to which it 

 retreats during the wild storms of winter. The food con- 

 sists almost entirely of fish. The Shag is considerably less 

 than the Cormorant, while the plumage of the male and 

 female is alike in colour. It has twelve feathers in the tail, 

 whereas the Common Cormorant has fourteen. 



1 Mr. Hardy's MS. Azotes. 



- Hist. Ber. Xat. Chtb, vol. i. p. 19. 3 /j/,;. vol. iii. p. 74. 



